[Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
At kindergartens and daycare centers, fun parties and birthday celebrations are held for the children.
Games and performances are essential for these events.
While many teachers are brainstorming ideas to delight the kids who eagerly look forward to them, some may be struggling with a lack of ideas.
In this article, we introduce games and performances that are perfect for such parties.
We’ve gathered a wide variety, from activities led by teachers to ones where children participate and have fun.
They’re all engaging ideas that spark children’s curiosity! Many of these games and performances are actually used in kindergartens and daycare centers, so feel free to use them as a reference.
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[Kindergartens/Daycare Centers] Games and Performances for Fun Events (111–120)
Sorting Game
Let me introduce a sorting game.
Prepare three colors of balls—red, blue, and yellow—and one red box and one blue box.
Catch the ball that the teacher throws, then put red balls into the red box and blue balls into the blue box, while avoiding (not catching) yellow balls.
By repeating these movements continuously, you can train reaction ability.
Start with slow throwing speed at first, and as you get used to it, it’s recommended to increase the speed to make it more fun.
Reaction Game
Let’s play with color markers! Here’s a reaction game idea.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to get kids moving and playing together.
Arrange colorful markers in a circle and place a marker or token in the center—then you’re ready to go.
When the teacher gives the signal, participants circle around the center.
You can make it more fun by adding variations, like switching direction when the teacher claps.
It’s a simple game where players try to find the marker that matches the color of the one the teacher raises along with the signal.
Bug-catching game
Here’s a bug-catching game you play with a butterfly net.
The rules are very simple: cut origami paper into small pieces to make confetti, put it in a bowl, and get ready.
The person dropping the confetti stands on a raised platform and sprinkles the paper down.
The child below holds a butterfly net and tries to catch the confetti with the net.
It’s a fun game where you watch the confetti fall from above and move the hand-held net to catch it inside.
Try it in a spacious area and be sure to play safely!
Balloon Whack Game
Here’s a game using balloons that kids love: the Balloon Smack Game.
It’s basically the summer watermelon-smashing game, but with a balloon instead of a watermelon.
One designated player wears a blindfold and swings a plastic bat toward the balloon.
Spectators should keep a safe distance and guide the player with their voices: “To the right!” “A little farther back!” and so on, helping them find the balloon.
It also works well as a warm-up when you’re planning to do a real watermelon-smashing activity at an overnight camp or summer festival.
The Falling-Falling Game
It’s a recreation activity with set movements that you do along with the song “Oochita ochita, nani ga ochita? Ringo” (“It fell, it fell—what fell? An apple”).
Some people may have played it as part of eurhythmics.
When “ringo” (apple) is called, you make a gesture of catching an apple with your hands.
In the same way, for “genkotsu” (fist) you hold your head, and for “kaminari” (thunder) you cover your belly button.
It’s a game where small differences in reflexes make it fun! You can also play with the rule that anyone who makes a mistake is out, and the last person remaining wins.
Bowling with plastic bottles
The first bowling alley in Japan was built at the end of the Edo period.
The idea of people with topknots going bowling might sound strange, right? Later came the massive bowling boom of the 1970s—names like Ritsuko Nakayama and Kayoko Suda bring back memories.
For kids, this might be their first experience with bowling.
Why not hold a tournament with “PET bottle bowling”? Even making the pins out of plastic bottles sounds fun! For the ball, use a softball or a volleyball as a substitute.
Sketchbook Theater
A sketchbook theater is where you use a sketchbook like a picture-story show to tell a story.
You can draw the story’s illustrations directly in the sketchbook, or make characters and other elements out of construction paper and paste them in.
Adding mechanisms—like characters that pop out, move, or images that change instantly like magic—will make it even more enjoyable for children.
If you’re doing it for a Tanabata event, try creating it with the Tanabata story as the motif.
